Compounds and their application as well as a method of producing liquid crystalline polymers therefrom

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to compounds with the general formula Y 1 —A 1 —M 1 —A 2 —Y 2  wherein 
     Y 1  and Y 2  are different from each other and Y 1  is an acrylate or methacrylate residue and Y 2  is a vinyl ether, epoxy, or azide residue, 
     A 1  and A 2  are identical or different residues with the general formula C n H 2n  in which n is a whole number from 0 to 20 and one or more methylene groups can be replaced by oxygen atoms, and 
     M 1  has the general formula —R 1 —X 1 —R 2 —X 2 —R 3 —X 3 —R 4 — wherein 
     R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  are identical or different doubly bonded residues from the group —O—, —COO—, —CONH—, —CO—, —S—, —C≡C—, —CH═CH—, —CH═N—, —CH 2 —, —N═N—, and —N═N(O)—, and R 2 —X 2 —R 3  can also be a C—C bond, and 
     X 1 , X 2 , and X 3  are identical or different residues from the group 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexylene; arylalkane or heteroarylalkane with 1 to 10 carbon atoms which contains one to three heteroatoms from the group O, N, and S, substituted with B 1 , B 2 , and/or B 3 ; and cycloalkylene with 1 to 10 carbon atoms and substituted with B 1 , B 2 , and/or B 3 , wherein B 1 , B 2 , and B 3  can be identical or different substituents from the group —H, C 1 -C 20 -alkyl, C 1 -C 20 -alkoxy, C 1 -C 20 - alkylthio, C 1 -C 20 -alkylcarbonyl, C 1 -C 20 -alkoxycarbonyl, C 1 -C 20 -alkylthiocarbonyl, —OH, halogen (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine), —CN, —NO 2 , cycloalkyl, formyl, acetyl, and alkyl, alkoxy, or alkylthio residues with 1-20 carbon atoms interrupted by ether oxygen, thioether sulfur, or ester groups.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 08/953,976, filed Oct. 20, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,000.

This application claims the priority of German Application No. 19643048.8-43 filed in Germany on Oct. 18, 1996, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Polymer coatings and effect paints are extremely important for improvement of surfaces and the esthetic appearance of objects. A wide variety of color impressions and special color effects can be created in many different ways. Current polymer coatings use particles or pigments in a carrier polymer to provide color or achieve special effects such as a metallic sheen or the like. To achieve specific reflection effects, metal flakes, coated mica particles, or interference pigments based on liquid crystalline compounds for example are worked into a clear vehicle as a carrier polymer. Other pigments can additionally be added for free creation of the color impression.

Another possibility for coloration-producing effects consists in the use of liquid crystalline polymers or copolymers, oligomers (macromonomers), or monomers. Some of these liquid crystalline materials are appropriate for forming cohesive polymer films. They polymerize in the liquid crystalline phase and thus produce a paint layer with a special color effect. It is not necessary to work them into a carrier material such as a clear paint.

Known substances that exhibit a liquid crystalline state are generally elongated organic molecules which are able to assume a particular molecular arrangement. Depending on the arrangement of the liquid crystalline phase, only the wavelengths of the incident light that interfere with the equidistant lattice spacing of the liquid crystalline materials are reflected, so that particular color and reflection effects are generated. To make paints and other polymer coatings that exhibit certain wavelength reflections and light effects, it is necessary to fix the liquid crystalline phase or stabilize it mechanically. Particular liquid crystalline phases are formed in certain temperature ranges, whose position and size depends in turn on the chemical structure of the materials. Moreover, the color appearance of the liquid crystalline phases within the phase often depends on temperature, namely as the liquid crystalline phase is heated or cooled, different wavelengths are reflected. To preserve certain color or reflection effects, it is possible to fix a liquid crystalline phase by polymerization or chemical crosslinking of the initial molecules into a dense network. For this purpose, the starting materials must contain crosslinkable reactive groups.

The literature contains liquid crystalline monomer compounds with two identical terminal reactive groups such as diacrylates (J. Lub, D. J. Broer, R. A. M. Hikmet, K. G. J. Nierop, Liquid Crystals 18, 319 (1995)), diepoxides (D. J. Broer, J. Lub, G. N. Mol. Macromolecules 26, 1244 (1993)), and divinyl ethers (R. A. M. Hikmet, J. Lub, J. A. Higgins, Polymer 34, 1736 (1993); S. Jahromi, J. Lub, G. N. Mol, Polymer 35, 622 (1994)). Such monomers are usually crosslinked photochemically by photocycloaddition or by addition of a photoinitiator to the monomer mixture. Likewise, thermally initiated radical crosslinking or thermally initiated addition or condensation reactions are known. With these known monomer compounds, both terminal groups are always polymerized at the same time. To form a polymer film, the known liquid crystalline monomers are applied to the corresponding substrates and the polymerization reaction is initiated, producing the finished end product.

In this process, the application and adhesion of the initial monomers to the coated substrate create considerable difficulties. As a rule, liquid crystalline monomers are crystalline or powdered, so that they adhere poorly to the substrate and are difficult to apply in an even layer. Moreover, the known liquid crystalline materials are relatively invariable in terms of hardness, elasticity, and adhesion of the end product, namely the polymer film, and do not adjust readily to the requirements of specific applications.

The goal of the present invention is to provide compounds and a method of producing liquid crystalline polymers with better handling, processing, and end product properties than the prior art.

This goal is achieved by compounds with general formula Y¹—A¹—M¹—A²—Y² wherein

Y¹ and Y² are different from each other and Y¹ is an acrylate or methacrylate residue and Y² is a vinyl ether, epoxy, or azide residue,

A¹ and A² are identical or different residues with the general formula C_(n)H_(2n) in which n is a whole number from 0 to 20 and one or more methylene groups can be replaced by oxygen atoms, and

M¹ has the general formula —R¹—X¹—R²—X²—R³—X³—R⁴— wherein

R¹, R², R³, and R⁴ are identical or different covalently residues from the group —O—, —COO—, —CONH—, —CO—, —S—, —C≡C—, —CH═CH—, —CH═N—, —CH₂—, —N═N—, and —N═N(O)—, and R²—X²—R³—X³ can also be a C—C bond, and

X¹, X², and X³ are identical or different residues from the group 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexylene; arylalkane or heteroarylalkane with 1 to 10 carbon atoms which contains one to three heteroatoms from the group O, N, and S, substituted with B¹, B², and/or B³; and cycloalkylene with 1 to 10 carbon atoms and substituted with B¹, B², and/or B³, wherein B¹, B², and B³ can be identical or different substituents from the group —H, C₁-C₂₀-alkyl, C₁-C₂₀-alkoxy, C₁-C₂₀-alkylthio, C₁-C₂₀-alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₂₀-alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₂₀-alkylthiocarbonyl, —OH, halogen (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine), —CN, —NO₂, cycloalkyl, formyl, acetyl, and alkyl, alkoxy, or alkylthio residues with 1-20 carbon atoms interrupted by ether oxygen, thioether sulfur, or ester groups.

At the same time, a method of producing liquid crystalline polymers is provided wherein

a) prepolymers are made by polymerization, reacting the acrylate or methacrylate groups Y¹ of a compound or a mixture of compounds according to Claim 1, and thereafter

b) they are crosslinked by polymerization, reacting vinylethyl, epoxy, or azide groups Y².

The particular advantage of the compounds according to the invention is that, during polymerization, particularly the creation of liquid crystalline polymers, they make a two-step process possible. The compounds proposed have a molecular structure that confers liquid crystalline properties on them. In addition, they have polymerizable residues Y¹ and Y² which make it possible to fix the polycrystalline phase by polymerization. By contrast to known liquid crystalline monomers, which can be used to make liquid crystalline polymer coatings, the various reactive residues Y¹ and Y² of the compounds according to the invention are however crosslinkable by polymerization reactions with various initiation and reaction mechanisms. By polymerization of acrylate or methacrylate groups Y¹, prepolymers can be made with degrees of polymerization that are not too high (oligomers). These oligomers form glasses, but still do not have sufficiently low viscosity to ensure good orientation. Moreover, by the usual methods of polymer chemistry, the molecular weight and other material parameters such as viscosity, film-forming properties, leveling, flow properties, solubility, color, sheen, swelling, workability, adhesion, elasticity, hardness, etc. can be affected.

A particularly advantageous property of the reactive groups Y¹ and Y² of the compounds according to the invention is that the initiation and reaction of prepolymerization of reactive groups Y¹ can take place without the reactive groups Y² being reacted. The resultant oligomers can be readily further processed following prepolymerization and have outstanding application properties by comparison to the known polycrystal monomers. The viscosity of the prepolymers makes it possible for example to apply them before final crosslinking like a paint with good leveling properties, good flow properties, high sprayability, and outstanding adhesion to the substrate to be coated. In a further polymerization step, the vinyl ether, epoxy, or azide groups Y² that are still free are crosslinked. Adhesion of the end product to the substrate can be adjusted, for example by concentrating the reactive groups Y², to the substrate in question.

The compounds according to the invention have still further advantages. Polymerization of the liquid crystalline materials has to be done in two steps with prepolymerization. They can also be polymerized directly on a substrate with both functional groups Y¹ and Y² being polymerized. The user is thus able to choose between a one-step and a two-step polymerization process or combine them according to the application.

Particularly advantageous liquid crystalline monomers are compounds in which Y¹ is an acrylate group and Y² is a vinyl ether group. It is also advantageous for the number n of carbon atoms of residues A¹ and A² to be 1 to 10, and particularly preferably 2 to 6. It is advantageous for the liquid crystalline properties for the residues R¹, R², R³, and/or R⁴ to be —O—, —COO—. It is also advantageous for the X¹ and X³ residues to be 1,4-phenylene and/or for R²—X²—R³ to be a C—C bond.

In a preferred embodiment of the method for producing liquid crystalline polymers, polymerization (a) is carried out by reacting the acrylate or methacrylate groups Y¹ radically and polymerization (b) by reacting the vinyl ether, epoxy, or azide groups Y² preferably photochemically, and particularly preferably cationically. Since polymerization reaction (a) is usually inhibited by oxygen, it is advantageous to conduct it in an organic solvent, preferably in degassed, absolute tetrahydrofuran. It is appropriate to initiate this reaction and to continue it, in the presence of a radical polymerization initiator, preferably 2,2′-azobis-(2-methylpropionitrile), dibenzoyl peroxide, or di-t-butyl peroxide, particularly preferably with an initiator concentration of 1 to 5 mol. %. For polymerization reaction (a), it is advantageous for there to be a reaction regulator, preferably 1-decanethiol, particularly preferably with a reaction regulator concentration of 1 to 10 mol %.

The various initiation and reaction mechanisms of radical polymerization of acrylate or methacrylate groups Y¹ to the prepolymer on the one hand and the photochemical cationic polymerization (b) of vinyl ether, epoxy, or azide groups Y² to the end product on the other hand, ensure that in the first step, when residue Y¹ is being crosslinked, no reaction takes place with residues Y² or of residues Y² with one another. Since cationic polymerization by contrast with radical polymerization is not inhibited by oxygen, this makes the process simpler and simplifies handling of the prepolymer during crosslinking on the substrate. No steps need be taken to exclude oxygen by expensive inert gas technologies.

When prepolymerization (a) is conducted in an organic solvent, the oligomers, which are easy to handle, can be made in large quantities regardless of where they are further converted to the end product. The prepolymers usually have a very long shelf life.

By using a radical polymerization initiator and possibly adding a reaction regulator, the reaction conditions can be optimized in terms of yield and product properties.

For many applications, it is particularly advantageous to isolate the prepolymer after polymerization reaction (a) . For this purpose, it is advantageous to precipitate it from hexane after polymerization reaction (a) and then advantageously reprecipitate and/or dry it.

For the application, to be able to apply the prepolymer like a paint to the substrate to be coated, it is particularly advantageous to dissolve it before polymerization (b) of the vinyl ether, epoxy, or azide groups in an organic solvent, preferably in chloroform or tetrahydrofuran, and to evaporate the solvent before the reaction itself.

The form of the prepolymer to be applied can be adapted to a great variety of application requirements. For example, it can also be sold in the solvent instead of the monomeric compounds, so that the end user need not make the prepolymer, saving work steps, manufacturing facilities, and cost. Moreover, solutions of the prepolymer can be made in any concentration and with specific viscosity, flow, wetting, and adhesion properties. Application to the substrate to be coated can be done in any suitable manner. Thus, for example, surfaces can be sprayed or painted or dipped in the solution of prepolymer. Depending on the requirement and the solvent used, it can be evaporated at room temperature or at an elevated temperature, at a negative pressure, or in an air stream. It must be borne in mind in this connection that polymerization reaction (b) with certain compositions already begins at an elevated temperature, which may be advantageous for certain applications.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, polymerization (b) is conducted by reacting the vinyl ether, epoxy, or azide group in the presence of at least one photoinitiator, preferably a cationic photoinitiator. Advantageously the photoinitiator is present in a quantity of 0.5 to 10 wt. %, preferably 1 to 5 wt. %, and/or contains a diarylsulfonium salt, a diaryliodonium salt, or a mixture thereof. Examples of such photoinitiators are the commercial products Degacure KI 85 (Degussa), bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)iodonium hexafluorophosphate (Midori Chemical), 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylethoxyphenylphosphine oxide (BASF) mixed with diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate, and 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone mixed with diphenyliodonium tetrafluoroborate. Normally, polymerization reaction (b) is induced by ultraviolet radiation and/or the reaction product is post-cured by heat treatment.

The use of a photoinitiator has particular advantages since the course of the reaction up to the end product can be more easily initiated, regulated, and accelerated. By comparison to purely thermal curing of the prepolymers, induction of the polymerization reaction by ultraviolet radiation saves considerable energy cost, and is faster and more readily initiated, and easier to quantify. Heat treatment has advantages if the surface to be coated cannot be reached by the initiation radiation because it is in the shadow or inaccessible.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, polymerization (a) is conducted in the presence of additional compounds with the general formula Y³—A³—M²—A⁴—Y⁴ or (Y³—A³)₂—M²—A⁴—Y⁴— wherein

Y³ can be an acrylate or methacrylate group and Y⁴ can be a polymerizable residue from the group of vinyl ether, epoxy, and azide residues or a nonpolymerizable residue from the group —H, —CN, and cholesteryl,

A³ and A⁴ are identical or different residues with the general formula C_(n)H_(2n) in which n is a whole number from 0 to 20 and one or more methylene groups can be replaced by oxygen atoms, and

M² has the general formula —R⁵—X⁴—R⁶—X⁵—R⁷—X⁶—R⁸— wherein

R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, and R⁸ are identical or different doubly bonded residues from the group —O—, —COO—, —CONH—, —CO—, —S—, —C≡C—, —CH═CH—, —CH═N—, —CH₂—, —N═N—, and —N═N(O)—, and R⁶—X⁵—R⁷ or R⁶—X⁵ —R⁷—X⁶ can also be a C—C bond and

X⁴, X⁵, and X⁶ are identical or different residues from the group 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexylene; arylalkane or heteroarylalkane with 1 to 10 carbon atoms which contains one to three heteroatoms from the group O, N, and S, substituted with B¹, B², and/or B³; and cycloalkylene with 1 to 10 carbon atoms and substituted with B¹, B², and/or B³, wherein B¹, B², and B³ can be identical or different substituents from the group —H, C₁-C₂₀-alkyl, C₁-C₂₀-alkoxy, C₁-C₂₀- alkylthio, C₁-C₂₀-alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₂₀-alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₂₀-alkylthiocarbonyl, —OH, halogen (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine), —CN, —NO₂, cycloalkyl, formyl, acetyl, and alkyl, alkoxy, or alkylthio residues with 1-20 carbon atoms interrupted by ether oxygen, thioether sulfur, or ester groups.

These additional compounds, hereinafter known as comonomers, are particularly suitable for matching the properties of the polymerization end product to the application requirements in question. The adjustable mechanical properties of the end product are in particular adhesion, elasticity, and hardness of the polymer film on the substrate in question.

The use according to the invention of the comonomers to control the optical effect of the polymer film is particularly advantageous. Here it is particularly advantageous for residues A³ and/or A⁴ to be chiral. By using one or more chiral or chiral-nematic comonomers in different ratios mixed with the monomers of the present invention, any reflection wavelengths of the polymer films, from the ultraviolet to the infrared range, can be established. By copolymerization with the chiral compounds, highly crosslinked polymer films result, in which the reflection wavelength does not depend on temperature. Because of the chirality of the compounds, cholesteric side group prepolymers are formed in polymerization (a) which are then fixed as a cholesteric network in polymerization reaction (b).

Examples of comonomers suitable according to the invention are the following compounds:

4-[(S)-(2-acryloyloxy-2-methyl)ethoxy]-4′-cyanobiphenyl

4-[(S)-2-acryloyloxy-2-methyl)ethoxy]-4′-[(S)-2-methylbutoxyl]biphenyl

{4′-[(S)-(2-acryloyloxy-2-methyl)ethoxy]phenyl}4-(2-vinyloxyethoxy)benzoate

Preferably, the copolymers have only one or two polymerizable residues Y³, which are exclusively involved in first polymerization reaction (a). Copolymers with only one acrylate or methacrylate group affect not only the optical effect but also the mechanical properties of the prepolymer and the end product. Such copolymers lead to chain terminations in the polymerization reaction and thus regulate the degree of crosslinking. The chiral centers A³ and/or A⁴ of the comonomers favor formation of a cholesteric phase in the liquid crystalline polymer. Such a cholesteric structure, which can only be accomplished with optically active molecules and represents a type of superstructure on the liquid crystalline textures of simple structure, contains liquid crystalline unit regions in a screw-shaped helical arrangement. The height of the individual helical unit regions, also known as pitch, determines the wavelength of the reflected light and hence the colors of the metallically iridescent reflections of the polymer film.

Examples of chiral vinyl ethers and divinyl ethers, suitable according to the invention as comonomers with free vinyl ether groups, and favoring a cholesteric phase, are the following compounds:

cholesteryl 4-(2-vinyloxyethoxy)benzoate

cholesteryl 4-(6-acryloyloxyhexyloxy)benzoate

cholesteryl 3,4-di(1-vinyloxyethoxy)benzoate

derivative of 1,4:3,6-dianhydro-D-mannitol with two vinyl ether groups

Further advantages, features, and applications of the present invention will become clear from the preferred embodiments hereinbelow.

EXAMPLE 1

A) 4-(2-Vinyloxyethoxy)benzoic acid 4,-(6-acryloyloxy-hexyloxy)phenyl ester

4.37 g (0.021 mole) of 4-(2-vinyloxyethoxyl)benzoic acid is dissolved in 80 mL of 1,2-dimethoxyethane and 4.25 g (0.042 mole) of triethylamine was added. At −30° C., 2.41 g (0.021 mole) methanesulfonyl chloride was added dropwise to the solution such that the temperature did not go above −25° C. After one hour agitation at −30° C., 5.56 g (0.021 mole) 4-(6-acryloyloxyhexyloxy)phenol, 0.024 g (0.002 mole) 4-dimethylaminopyridine, and 100 mg 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol was added to the reaction solution and agitated for a further three hours at 0 to 5° C. The resulting precipitate was then filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated under vacuum in a rotary evaporator. The residue was recrystallized from 80 mL isopropanol. The product is obtained with a yield of 78% (7.42 g).

B) Synthesis of Precursors

a) 4-(2-Vinyloxyethoxy)benzoic acid

11.3 g (0.069 mole) ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate was dissolved in 200 mL cyclohexanone in an inert atmosphere. After addition of 18.8 g (0.136 mole) potassium carbonate, 1.0 g potassium iodide, and 8.0 g (0.075 mole) 2-chlorethyl vinyl ether, the reaction mixture was refluxed for five hours. The solid was then filtered off and rinsed with a little cyclohexanone.

When the cyclohexanone was drawn off under vacuum, the residue was taken up in 300 mL methanol and a solution of 19.04 g (0.43 mole) KOH in 50 mL water was added. The reaction mixture was then refluxed for 17 hours. The solvent was then drawn off in a vacuum and the residue was added to 300 mL 0.5 M aqueous NaOH. After washing three times with 80-mL portions of diethyl ether, the aqueous phase was acidified with conc. HCl, the resultant precipitate was filtered off, and recrystallized after drying, from 100 mL toluene. The yield was 9.49 g (67%).

b) Synthesis of 4-(6-acryoyloxyhexyloxy)phenol

is done according to R. A. M. Hikmet, J. Lub, A. J. W. Tol, Macromolecules 28, 3313 (1995).

EXAMPLE 2

4-[(S)-(2-Acryloyloxy-2-methyl)ethoxy]-4′-cyanobiphenyl

The compound wssynthesized similarly to the corresponding methacrylate as described in J. M. G. Cowie, H. W. Hunter, Makromol. Chem. 191, 1339 (1990).

EXAMPLE 3

Synthesis of an Oligoacrylate with Free Vinyl Ether Groups

1.0 g of monomer 1 was dissolved in 10 mL absolute THF. 2 mol % 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionitrile) as the initiator and 4 mol % 1-decanethiol as the regulator were added to the solution. After degassing three times, it was polymerized while stirring for 48 hours at 60° C.

The solution was then precipitated from 400 mL hexane, the polymer was dissolved in 8 mL CHCl₃ and reprecipitated from 400 mL methanol. After drying in a vacuum oven at 50° C. overnight, the yield was 85%.

Characterization

The polymer had a nematic phase with a clear point at approximately 100° C. In ¹H NMR the vinyl ether bands are still detectable at 6.5 ppm and 4.2 ppm. After GPC, M_(n)˜20,000.

EXAMPLE 4

Synthesis of Cholesteric Cooligoacrylates with Free Vinyl Ether Groups

1.0 g of a mixture of monomers 1 and 2 was dissolved in 10 mL absolute THF. 2 mol % 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionitrile) was added as the initiator and 4 mol % 1-decanethiol was added as the regulator. After degassing three times, it was polymerized for 48 hours at 60° C. while stirring.

The solution was then precipitated from 400 mL hexane, the polymer was dissolved in 8 mL CHCl₃, and reprecipitated from 400 mL methanol. It was then dried overnight in a vacuum oven at 50° C.

A cooligoacrylate was obtained with vinyl ether groups that are still free. The polymer can then be crosslinked cationically with these.

EXAMPLE 5

Cationic Photocrosslinking of Films of the Cooligoacrylates

The prepolymerized cholesteric cooligoacrylate with free vinyl ether groups was dissolved in CHC₁ ₃ or THF. After addition of 1 to 5 wt. % cationic photoinitiator Dagacure KI 85 (Degussa), the solution was spread over a substrate and the solvent was evaporated off. The prepolymer layer was then crosslinked cationically in the cholesteric phase by irradiation with UV light. After irradiation, the film was completely insoluble and its texture will no longer change. Depending on the ratio of monomers 1 and 2, the reflection wavelength of the polymer layer was in the visible spectral range, so that the film is colored and has a metallic sheen.

EXAMPLE 6

4-[(S)-(2-Acryloyloxy-2-methyl)ethoxy]-4-[(S)-2-methylbutoxy]biphenyl

The chiral precursor 4-hydroxy-[4′-2-methyl]butoxy]biphenyl of monomer 3 was synthesized according to R. Zentel, G. Reckert, B. Reck, Liquid Crystals 2, 83 (1987). Further synthesis of monomer 3 was done similarly to synthesis of monomer 2.

EXAMPLE 7

Synthesis of Cholesteric Cooligoacrylates with Free Vinyl Ether Groups

1.0 g of a mixture of monomers 1 and 3 was dissolved in 10 mL of absolute THF. 2 mole 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionitrile) was added to the solution as the initiator and 4 mol % 1-decanethiol was added as the regulator. After degassing three times, it wss polymerized for 48 hours at 60° C. while stirring.

The solution was then precipitated from 400 mL hexane, the polymer was dissolved in 8 mL CHCl₃, and reprecipitated in 400 mL methanol. It was then dried overnight in a vacuum oven at 50° C.

A cooligoacrylate was obtained with vinyl ether groups that are still free. The polymer was then crosslinked cationically with these groups.

EXAMPLE 8

Cationic Photocrosslinking of Films of Cooligoacrylates

The prepolymerized cholesteric cooligoacrylate with free vinyl ether groups was dissolved in CHCl₃ or THF. After addition of 1 to 5 wt. % cationic photoinitiator Dagacure KI 85 (Degussa), the solution was spread over a substrate and the solvent was evaporated off. The prepolymer layer was then crosslinked cationically in the cholesteric phase by irradiation with UV light. After irradiation, the film was completely insoluble and its texture will no longer change. Depending on the mixing ratio of monomers 1 and 3, the reflection wavelength of the polymer layer is in the visible spectral range, so that the film is colored and has a metallic sheen.

EXAMPLE 9

A) Cholesteryl 4-(6-acryloyloxyhexyloxy)benzoate

2.92 g (0.01 mole) 4-(6-acryloyloxyhexyloxy)benzoic acid is dissolved in 10 mL CHCl₃ and two drops of N,N-dimethylformamide and 30 mg of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol were added. Next, 15 mL thionyl chloride was added dropwise to the solution which was stirred at 70° C. until no more gas was given off (approx. 1-2 hours). Then, the CHCl₃ and excess thionyl chloride were distilled off under vacuum. The residue is 4-(6-acryloyloxyhexyloxy)benzoyl chloride.

The acid chloride was dissolved in 30 mL absolute ether and at 0 to 5° C. added dropwise to 3.86 g (0.01 mole) cholesterol in 10 mL pyridine. It was then stirred for 17 hours at 50° C.

For workup, the solution was poured into 200 to 300 mL ice water and acidified with conc. HCl. The product precipitated as a white precipitate. The precipitate was filtered off, washed with saturated NaHCO₃ solution, and then with H₂O. It was then recrystallized twice from 100-mL portions of ethanol. After drying, 4.5 g (69%) white crystals 27 are obtained.

Characterization

¹H NMR (CHCl₃): 0.65 (s, 3H); 0.8 to 2.1 (m, 46 H); 2.45 (m, 2H) 3.88 (t, 2H); 4.15 (t, 2H); 4.821 (m, 1H); 5.40 (m, 1H); 5.80 (dd, 1H); 6.10 (dd, 1H); 6.38 (dd, 1H); 6.85 (d, 2H); 7.95 (d, 2H) ppm

¹³C NMR (CDC₃): 11.82; 18.68; 19.34; 21.01; 22.52; 22.78; 23.80; 24.24; 25.66; 27.95; 28.19; 28.49; 28.96; 31.85; 35.75; 36.15; 36.60; 37.01; 38.25; 39.47; 39.70; 42.47; 50.00; 56.10; 56.64; 64.39; 67.87; 74.12; 113.89; 122.59; 123.05; 128.52; 130.44; 131.46; 139.71; 162.66; 165.69; 166.20 ppm

IR (KBr): 2943; 2866; 1717; 1634; 1605; 1510; 1273; 1250; 1198; 1167; 1115; 1007; 772 cm⁻¹

Phase properties ^(a)): k97 s 161 ch 200 i

^(a)) Polarizing Microscope:

Heating rate 10 Kmin⁻¹; second heating; 1 wt. % 4-methoxyphenol as inhibitor. No DSC data are obtainable since the compound completely polymerizes. Under the polarizing microscope, the phase transitions can be observed at the edges of the samples.

B) Synthesis of Precursors

a) ethyl 4-(6-hydroxyhexyloxy)benzoate

16.6 g (0.1 mole) ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate is added to a solution of 4.0 g (0.12 mole) NaOH in 300 mL 2-butanone. After addition of 15.0 g (0.1 mole) NaI and 16.01 mL (0.12 mole) 6-chlorohexanol the mixture was stirred for 10 hours at 60° C.

The solvent was distilled off under water aspirator vacuum (WV), the residue was washed with 300 mL 0.4 M NaOH, and extracted four times with 80-mL portions of ether. The ether phases were combined, dried over Na₂SO₄, then the ether was evaporated in a rotary evaporator under water aspirator vacuum.

The residue was a yellow solid 4-(6-hydroxyhexyloxy) benzoic acid ethyl ester which is used without further purification.

Yield: 23.5 g (88%).

b) 4-(6-Hydroxyhexyloxy)benzoic acid

23.5 g (0.088 mole) ethyl 4-(6-hydroxyhexyloxy)benzoate (as crude product) was added to 300 mL 0.5 M KOH and refluxed for 5 hours.

The solution was then washed three times with 80-mL portions of ether and the aqueous phase was acidified with HCl. The precipitated product was filtered off, washed in H₂O, and recrystallized from 250 mL ethanol.

After drying under vacuum, 9.7 g (50%) white crystals were obtained.

Characterization

¹H NMR (THF-dg): 1.65 (m, 6H); 1.95 (m, 2H); 3.65 (t, 2H); 4.20 (t, 2H); 7.10 (d, 2H); 8.10 (d, 2H) ppm

IR(KBr): 3404; 2947; 2911; 1690; 1605 cm⁻¹

c) 4-(6-Acryloyloxyhexyloxy)benzoic acid

16.0 g (0.067 mole) 4-(6-hydroxyhexyloxy)benzoic acid is added to a solution of 9.34 mL (0.074 mole) N,N-dimethylaniline in 90 mL 1,4-dioxane.

At 60° C., 6.01 mL (0.074 mole) of freshly distilled acryloyl chloride was added slowly dropwise. It was then stirred for 2 hours at 60° C. When water was added, the product precipitated as a white precipitate and was then filtered off.

For purification, the product was recrystallized in 200 mL 2-propanol. After drying 14.6 g (75%) of white crystals were obtained.

Characterization

¹H NMR (CDCl₃): 1.45 (m, 4H); 1.70 (M, 2H); 1.80 (m, 2H); 4.00 (t, 2H); 4.15 (t, 2H); 5.80. (dd, 1H); 6.10 (dd, 1H); 6.38 (dd, 1H); 6.90 (d, 2H); 8.05 (d, 2H) ppm

IR(KBr): 2940; 1730; 1688; 1607; 1431; 1410; 1315; 1296; 1198; 1169; 986; 770 cm⁻¹

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example, and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope of the present invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of making liquid crystalline polymers by polymerization of compounds having the formula, Y¹—A¹—M¹—A²—Y² wherein Y¹ and Y² are different from each other and Y¹ is an acrylate or methacrylate residue and Y² is a vinyl ether, epoxy, or azide residue, A¹ and A² are identical or different residues with the general formula C_(n)H_(2n) in which n is a whole number from 0 to 20 and one or more methylene groups can be replaced by oxygen atoms, and M¹ has the general formula —R¹—X¹—R²—X²—R³—X³—R⁴ wherein R¹, R², R³, and R⁴ are identical or different doubly bonded residues from the group —O—, —COO—, —CONH—, —CO—, —S—, —C≡C—, —CH═CH—, —CH═N—, —CH₂—, —N═N—, —N═N(O)-, and R²—X²—R³ or R²—X²—R³—X³ can also be a C—C bond, whereby n in A¹ or A² is a whole number from 1 to 20 when R¹ or R⁴ is —O—, and X¹, X², and X³ are identical or different residues selected from the group consisting of 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexylene, arylalkane having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, heteroarylalkane having one to three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S, and cycloalkylene having 3 to 10 carbon atoms and, wherein, in the case of arylalkanes, heteroarylalkanes and cycloalkylenes, X¹, X², and X³ are substituted with at least one of B¹, B², and B³, wherein B¹, B², and B³ can be identical or different substituents selected from the group consisting of —H, C₁-C₂₀-alkyl, C₁-C₂₀-alkoxy, C₁-C₂₀-alkylthio, C₁-C₂₀ alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₂₀-alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₂₀-alkylthiocarbonyl, —OH, a halogen, —CN, —NO₂, cycloalkyl, formyl, and alkyl, alkoxy, or alkylthio residues with 1 to 20 carbon atoms interrupted by ether oxygen, thioether sulfur or ester groups, said method consisting of the steps of: (a) reacting the acrylate or methacrylate groups of Y¹ or a mixture of said compounds, thereby producing at least one prepolymer; and (b) crosslinking the at least one prepolymer by reacting the vinyl ether, epoxy, or azide groups of Y².
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (a) is conducted radically or is induced.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (b) is conducted photochemically.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein step (b) is conducted cationically.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (a) is performed in an organic solvent.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the organic solvent is degassed tetrahydrofuran.
 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein step (a) is performed in in the presence of a radical polymerization initiator.
 8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the radical polymerization initiator is 2,2′-azobis-(2-methylpropionitrile), dibenzoyl peroxide, or di-t-butyl peroxide.
 9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the concentration of the radical polymerization initiator is 1 to 5 mol %.
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (a) is performed in the presence of a reaction regulator.
 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the reaction regulator is 1-decanethiol.
 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the reaction regulator is in a concentration of 1 to 10 mol %.
 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one prepolymer is isolated after step (a).
 14. The method according claim 13, wherein the at least one prepolymer is precipitated after step (a).
 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the at least one prepolymer is precipitated from hexane.
 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one prepolymer is reprecipitated.
 17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one prepolymer is dried.
 18. The method according to claim 16 wherein the at least one prepolymer is dried.
 19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one prepolymer is dissolved in an organic solvent and the organic solvent is evaporated before step (b).
 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the organic solvent is tetrahydrofuran or chloroform.
 21. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (b) is conducted in the presence of at least one photoinitiator.
 22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the at least one photoinitiator is cationic.
 23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the at least one photoinitiator is present in a quantity of 0.5 to 10 wt. %.
 24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the at least one photoinitiator is present in a quantity of 1 to 5 wt. %.
 25. The method according to claim 24 wherein the at least one photoinitiator contains at least a trace of diarylsulfonate salt, a diaryliodonium salt, or a mixture of a diarylsulfonate salt and a diaryliodonium salt.
 26. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (b) is induced by ultraviolet radiation forming a reaction product.
 27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the reaction product is post-cured by heat treatment.
 28. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (a) is conducted in the presence of at least one additional compound, the at least one additional compound having the formula Y³—A³—M²—A⁴—Y⁴ or (Y³—A³)₂—M²—A⁴—Y⁴ wherein Y³ is an acrylate or methacrylate group and Y⁴ is a polymerizable residue selected from the group consisting of vinyl ether, epoxy, and azide residues or a nonpolymerizable residue selected from the group consisting of —H, —CN, and cholesteryl, A³ and A⁴ are identical or different residues having the formula C_(n)H_(2n) in which n is a whole number from 0 to 20 and one or more methylene groups can be replaced by oxygen atoms, and M² has the formula —R⁵—X⁴—R⁶—X⁵—R⁷—X⁶—R⁸—, wherein R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, and R⁸ are identical or different covalently residues selected from the group consisting of —O—, —COO—, —CONH—, —CO—, —S—, —C≡C—, —CH═CH—, —CH═N—, —CH₂—, —N═N—, and —N═N(O)—, and R⁶—X⁵—R⁷ or R⁶—X⁵—R⁷—X⁶ can also be a C—C bond, wherein n in A³ or A⁴ is a whole number from 1 to 20, when R¹ or R⁴ is —O—, and X⁴, X⁵, and X⁶ are identical or different residues selected from the group consisting of 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexylene, arylalkane or heteroarylalkane with 6 to 10 atoms in the aryl ring, which contains one to three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S, substituted with at least one of B¹, B², or B³ and cycloalkylene with 3 to 10 atoms and substituted with at least one of B¹, B², or B³, wherein B¹, B², and B³ can be identical or different substituents selected from the group consisting of —H, C₁-C₂₀-alkyl, C₁-C₂₀-alkoxy, C₁-C₂₀-alkylthio, C₁-C₂₀-alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₂₀-alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₂₀-alkylthiocarbonyl, —OH, a halogen, —CN, —NO₂ ₁ cycloalkyl, formyl, acetyl, and alkyl, alkoxy, or alkylthio residues with 1-20 carbon atoms interrupted by ether oxygen, thioether sulfur, or ester groups.
 29. The method according to claim 28 wherein wherein at least one of A³ or A⁴ are chiral residues.
 30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the halogen in the at least one additional compound comprises at least one of the members selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.
 31. The method according to claim 1, wherein the halogen is selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine. 